Councilmember Rivas to Conduct Interviews for Police Oversight on Saturday

If you’re looking for oversight of the police oversight commission selection process, look no further than District 5.

From 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27, District 5 City Councilmember Jessica Rivas will interview 13 candidates during a Zoom meeting open to the public.

“To make the best choice for our community, I am opening up the process to the public,” Rivas said.

Candidates will be interviewed consecutively and will answer the same set of questions.

The public is invited to watch and submit comments or questions via chat or email to jerivas@cityofpasadena.net

“I truly value your opinion and it will be an important factor in my decision,” Rivas said.

Council members from each of the city’s seven districts will nominate one of the 11 commissioners, and the mayor will nominate another.
In addition, three at-large commissioners from community-based groups will be nominated.

The council will have final approval on all the commissioners and an auditor.

Nominees are required to live in the city, though they are not required to be residents of the district represented by the nominating councilmember.

Another goal is for at least 50 percent of the commission’s appointees to be women.

In addition, practicing attorneys would not be able to serve if they or their firm or entity currently have pending criminal or civil cases involving Pasadena police officers.

There has also been discussion about whether current or former police officers would be eligible to serve on the commission, and that’s a debate that will be revisited.

Commissioners’ terms will be for three years and staggered.

“I truly value your opinion, and it will be an important factor in my decision,” Rivas said on her flier.

The event can be viewed at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82219750999.